Men's Ice Hockey

Hockey Topples First-Place Fitchburg State, 6-3

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA- Sophomore forward Giancarlo Capodanno (Mountainside, NJ/NJ Rockets) scored the first hat trick of his career and senior goaltender Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, MA/Springfield Jr. Falcons) made 31 saves to lead the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's hockey team to a 6-3 victory over visiting Fitchburg State in a Massachusetts College Athletic Conference game on the final day of the regular season at the Stephan Hetland Memorial Ice Arena Saturday.

Capodanno capped his day when he took a pass from senior center Matt Serino (Saugus, MA/Avon Old Farms) and fired the puck into an empty net at 19:15 of the third period. Senior defenseman Paul Moran (Rockville Centre, NY/Boston Jr. Bulldogs) put UMass Dartmouth ahead, 5-3 when he scored the first goal of his career on a shot from the left point at 7:55 of the third period.

Capodanno scored twice in the first period to stake the Corsairs to a 3-2 lead. He put UMD on top when he shoveled the rebound of a shot by senior forward Matt Berard (Calgary, AB/Berskshire Academy) past FSC junior goaltender Robert Vorse (Leominster, MA/Bay State Breakers) at 5:32 of the first period, then broke a 2-2 tie when he flipped home the rebound of senior defenseman Graeme Bourne's (Redlands, CA/Campbell River Storm) shot at the 15:36 mark. Junior forward Todd Bartelson (Pepperell, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) gave the Corsairs a 2-0 lead when he re-directed home a cross-crease pass from junior forward Joe Hill (Newburyport, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) at 7:40.

Freshman forward Chris Costigan (Salem, N H/Northern Cyclones) put the Falcons on the board when he beat Dryjowicz-Burek on a breakaway at the 11:53 mark. Junior forward Chris Riggs (Sewell, NJ/Fort Vancouver Pioneers) tied it a minute and five seconds later when he scored on the rebound of a shot by senior forward Andrew Hutton (Brewster, MA/Bkston Harborwolves).

Each team scored once in the second period. Freshman forward Dave McDonald (Wakefield, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) staked UMass Dartmouth to a two-goal lead when he converted a pass from freshman forward Nick Marquis (Londonderry, NH/Valley Jr. Warriors) at the 2:43 mark. Costigan brought the Falcons back within a goal when he scored his second goal of the game with FSC on the power play at 12:38.

"We talked about having a tough game today and having to play 60 minutes, and it was a solid team effort," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. "Our forwards, especially Capodanno, did a great job going to the net, Burek was sharp in goal, and it was great to see Paul Moran get his first goal. We now have our first three-game winning streal of the season going into the playoffs."

Fitchburg State out shot UMass Dartmouth, 34-32.. Dryjowicz-Burek made 31 saves for UMass Dartmouth, while Vorse made 26 stops for FSC. The Falcons converted one of four power play chances, while the Corsairs were blanked on all three of their power play opportunities.

UMD improved to 10-14-1 and 5-12-1 in the MASCAC with the defeat, while Fitchburg State dropped to 19-5-1 and 14-4-0 with the victory. The Corsairs will return to action when they hit the road for a MASCAC first round playoff game Tuesday evening. The Falcons finished first, received a bye into the semi-finals, and will play at home Thursday night. .